Igor Oreper, vice president solutions, Bitmovin, looks at the 5G chicken and the data egg
Contributor 1 min ago
Igor Oreper, vice president solutions, Bitmovin, looks at the 5G chicken and the data egg
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Igor Oreper, vice president solutions, Bitmovin, looks at the 5G chicken and the data egg
https://www.tvbeurope.com/features/online-video-delivery-at-the-dawn-of-the-5g-era title=Share via Email class=share-email>
Nearly 10 years on from the world's first publicly available LTE services, the impact 4G networks have had on mobile video consumption is clear. The ever-growing availability of online video content has changed the way media is distributed and consumed forever. Consumers have greater control and flexibility to watch what they want, when they want, on the device or platform of their choosing, in increasingly high definition. Research from Openwave Mobility showed that in the last five years, video consumption on mobile networks has grown on average 50-60 per cent year-on-year, a figure that is more than doubled when looking at developing markets in isolation.
In addition, at Mobile World Congress this year, we saw the future of video consumption on the go being realised, with manufacturers such as Huawei, Xiaomi and LG unveiling the first 5G phones to hit the market. Over the next few months, carriers like Verizon in the US and Vodafone in the UK will also start to make 5G services available in selective locations.
The 5G chicken and the data egg
At the dawn of next generation networks, one of the biggest challenges for online video content providers today, lies in managing the costs of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). While the cost per byte has continued to decrease, the bandwidth required to keep consumers happy is increasing at an even faster rate. Online video demand is certain to continue, but is the development of 5G a response to this, or the means by which it will be accelerated? The significant improvements in transmission speed, quality and reliability will enable close to zero latency between a streaming source and the viewer, and could see newer technologies like virtual and augmented reality viewing experiences enter the mainstream.
In the short term though, early 5G deployments will represent last mile broadband data connectivity, with backbone networks growing capacity with the current trajectory driven by fibre backbones, overlaid by CDNs and boosted by such techniques as point of presence (POP) peering across global telecom providers.
Across 4G/LTE and 5G networks, digital video demand will more likely be driven by trends like cord cutting, virtual multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), 4K video, and global adoption of video-capable mobile devices on WiFi or mobile networks. Cisco's study projects that globally, IP video traffic will be 82 per cent of all IP traffic by 2022, up from 75 per cent in 2017. Global IP video traffic will grow four-fold from 2017 to 2022. By that time, 5G is only expected to account for 3 per cent of global mobile devices and connection.
As user demand for data and bitrates keep going up without waiting for 5G, new approaches to video compression are an absolute necessity to keep the cost of streaming down, so content providers can spend their resources on creating more compelling content. Regardless of what network content is being delivered over, this can be achieved through three video workflow techniques: multi-codec streaming, per-file encoding and per-scene adaptation.
Multi-codec streaming
This bandwidth-saving technology enables a player to detect what the most efficient codec will be for streaming video on any browser or platform. AV1, H.264, HEVC, VP9, VVC have all been designed to suit a specific environment or type of content. By encoding videos into multiple codecs and configuring a player to make informed decisions about which files to stream and to whom, operators can deliver the highest picture quality on existing bandwidth. Looking further ahead, multi-codec solutions will assist early adopters as new codecs such as AV1 become ready for mass market penetration - which promises even larger bandwidth reductions.
Per-title encoding
This process involves adjusting an encoding configuration to optimise a specific video asset. It leverages the fact that some videos are far less complex than others, and therefore can be encoded at lower bitrates. Cartoons are a classic example of where this is particularly effective. Generally speaking, they contain scenes with large areas of solid colour at a lower complexity level, which can be compressed much more efficiently than the more detailed scenes in action or sci-fi movies.
Per-title encoding relies on performing a complexity analysis on each title before the encoding process begins. That complexity score is used to adjust the bitrate ladder by sending a new encoding profile to the encoder. The result: each video in a library is encoded in a way that best suits the content - minimising the bitrate and greatly reducing bandwidth usage.
Per-scene adaptation
This technique leverages the fact that the human eye is often unable to register a lot of the information delivered in a video stream. In most videos, there are many scenes that can be streamed at a lower bitrate without the viewer noticing. Per-scene adaptation involves supplementing the adaptation logic that governs the viewer's behaviour with an additional stream of quality metadata that contains information about the visual complexity of a particular segment in the video.
In an adaptive streaming scenario with a standard configuration, the player will attempt to download a video file that fits the screen it is playing on. In a player that is configured for per-scene adaptation, the player can be alerted to
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
30/09/2026
Add an envelope generator to any plug-in
Sync Audio's latest creation is a handy utility plug-in that can be used to combine and modulate other effects ...
30/09/2026
All-analogue tape-style drive joins Series A
Strymon's reputation was built on their digital knowhow, so many were surprised (and intrigued) when they a...
30/09/2026
Two new expansion packs released
Sonuscore have just introduced two new expansion packs for The Pulse, its production engine instrument for modern cinematic...
30/09/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
30/09/2026
New Solution Expands Harmonic's Network Intelligence Portfolio and Brings Comcast-Developed Fiber Monitoring Technology to Broadband Operators, Providing Re...
30/09/2026
How to Shop Well Now starts Monday at 9.35pm
on RT One and RT Player
On the...
29/09/2026
Two new plug-ins launch alongside updated bundles
Zynaptiq have just announced the launch of two new plug-ins, alongside new and improved versions of two of...
29/09/2026
All-in-one bus processor revealed
Wes Audio's ng product range has come a long way since it was first introduced, and now includes a tasty selection of ...
29/09/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
29/09/2026
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN, OR AT ANY ADDRESS IN, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITO...
29/09/2026
We tend to think we live in a digital world, with hopes and fears around artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, data centres and the next big technolo...
29/09/2026
Today, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Apple relea...
29/09/2026
Final Cut Camera, the professional filming app for iPhone, receives a major upda...
29/09/2026
RT lyric fm is proud to announce the annual Choirs for Christmas competition callout. Warm up those vocal chords and join us on RT lyric fm for a celebration ...
28/09/2026
EQ plug-in can now be played via MIDI
Scaler Music have recently released a new and improved version of their patented musical EQ plug-in, kitting it out wi...
28/09/2026
New synth developed in collaboration with philterSoup
Boutique effects pedal and Eurorack manufacturer Animal Factory Amps have announced that the new compa...
28/09/2026
Rohde & Schwarz adds an integrated multi-channel pulse analysis option to its FS...
28/09/2026
Monday 28 September 2026
Sky launches Full Fibre 1.6 Gbps for millions of homes
Sky has launched a new Full Fibre 1.6 Gbps product, rolling out from today, gi...
28/09/2026
Arvato Systems Highlights It's Role for Automotive Manufacturers and Suppliers
TISAX
Arvato Systems has successfully completed the TISAX Level 3 assess...
28/09/2026
Crimecall, presented by Carla O'Brien, returns tonight for a brand new series at 9.35pm on RT One and RT Player.
In tonight's episode, alongside appe...
28/09/2026
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS AT THE HEART OF NEW IRISH WRITING
LIVE FROM POETRY IRELAND, DUBLIN AND ON RT RADIO 1 FROM 7PM
DETAILS: www.rte.ie/writing | FOLLOW: #r...
27/09/2026
New compact pedal packs in 120 effects
The latest multi-effects pedal from Boss is a compact unit that promises to give any pedalboard a massive boost in s...
26/09/2026
Launched alongside three new expansion packs
In celebration of their 30th anniversary, Native Instruments have released a major update for their Maschine 3 ...
25/09/2026
Algorithm update & new DVA vibrato-detection engine
A new flagship version of Antares' iconic pitch-correction software has arrived, and along with a co...
25/09/2026
New flagship unit to arrive in early 2027
Two notes Audio Engineering have revealed that a new and improved version of their hugely popular reactive load bo...
25/09/2026
AI-free mixing tool gets an upgrade
Launched in October 2025, Tim Exiles Finalist is an algorithmic mixing tool that's been designed for those who don&#...
25/09/2026
Rohde & Schwarz Mobile Test Summit 2026 puts the spotlight on 6G - registrations...
25/09/2026
In our latest blog, Tim Pearson reflects on IBC 2026 and considers the main learnings against an industry that saw AI finally coming out of the labs and into pr...
25/09/2026
Friday 25 September 2026
How to watch an unmissable weekend of women's football on Sky Sports and NOW
Sky Sports and NOW will broadcast seven live games f...
25/09/2026
Friday 25 September 2026
YAGA trailer released, coming exclusively to Sky and N...
25/09/2026
Watch this space: a new strategic direction for UK media. Arqiva has submitted its response to the Governments Green Paper on the future of television distribut...
25/09/2026
Want to be part of this year's Late Late Toy Show?
Final call for applications in search for this year's stars
The most wonderful night of the year is...
24/09/2026
The next generation of multitrack recording for live sound
The latest version of Waves' dedicated live multitrack recording software delivers an array ...
24/09/2026
An idea machine for musicians
Described as an idea machine for musicians , the latest addition to Polyend's growing collection of guitar pedals combin...
24/09/2026
Alignment tool gains multitrack layout
Synchro Arts have just launched the latest version of their renowned time-alignment plug-in, and it's said to be ...
24/09/2026
Synth gains DAW Control & Ctrl-e integration
Expressive E have just released a major firmware update that brings some interesting new features to the Osmose...
24/09/2026
Rohde & Schwarz expands its system amplifier portfolio with the R&S SAM200 for a...
24/09/2026
September 24, 2026
The Hitachi Startup Challenge FY26 invites innovative startu...
24/09/2026
Download Now!
To receive a short case study showcasing NHK Technologies, Inc. (NT) s audio setup, please enter the following details:
--
First Name* Fir...
24/09/2026
LUXEMBOURG, September 24, 2026 - SES, a space solutions company, has commenced construction of a new satellite manufacturing facility in Kockelscheuer, Luxembou...
24/09/2026
Thursday 24 September 2026
Sky Mobile named Best MVNO at the Mobile Industry Aw...
24/09/2026
London, 24th September 2026: UKTV has commissioned an eighth series of Canal Boat Diaries (8x60') for U (u.co.uk) and U&YESTERDAY, with waterways explorer R...
24/09/2026
Reinaldo Marcus Green, director of six-time Academy Award-nominated King Richard...
24/09/2026
From the buzz of your phone when a message arrives to surgeons being able to feel' the patients they are examining from hundreds of kilometres away, these ...
24/09/2026
As Q4 approaches, retailers enter the most critical sales window of the year the golden quarter.
Stretching from October through December, this period encomp...
24/09/2026
Key Takeaways
Harmonic's cOS virtualized platform enables Lightcurve to de...
Igor Oreper, vice president solutions, Bitmovin, looks at the 5G chicken and the data egg
